Handheld Controller with Hand Detection Sensors

2. The handheld controller of claim 1, wherein a presence of an open hand gesture triggers a signal to the virtual reality system to include the open hand gesture in a corresponding avatar.

3. The handheld controller of claim 1, wherein a palm sensor on the palm side functions as a pistol grip safety.

4. The handheld controller of claim 1, wherein a palm sensor on the palm side comprises a first pressure sensitive sheet and a second pressure sensitive sheet is positioned on the finger side.

5. The handheld controller of claim 4, wherein the first pressure sensitive sheet and the second pressure sensitive sheet together detect a strength of the user's grip around the handle.

6. The handheld controller of claim 1, wherein the handheld controller includes tracking patterns comprised of patterns of lights.

7. The handheld controller of claim 1, further comprising a first button positioned on a thumb surface of the main body adjacent a thumbstick.

8. The handheld controller of claim 6, wherein the virtual reality system is configured to monitor movement of the tracking patterns with a tracking camera.

9. The handheld controller of claim 1, further comprising a detection sensor on the main body.

10. The handheld controller of claim 1, wherein a palm sensor on the palm side comprises a first pressure sensitive sheet.

11. The handheld controller of claim 10, wherein the palm sensor on the palm side comprises a first pressure sensitive sheet and the handheld controller further comprises a second pressure sensitive sheet.

12. The handheld controller of claim 11, wherein the handheld controller further comprises a set of three detection sensors.

13. The handheld controller of claim 12, wherein the handheld controller furthcr comprises a set of three detection sensors is disposed on the finger side.

14. The handheld controller of claim 13, wherein the second pressure sensitive sheet is disposed on the finger side and overlaps a first one of the three detection sensors.

15. The handheld controller of claim 14, wherein the third-finger button comprises the first one of the three detection sensors corresponding to a third finger of the user.

16. The handheld controller of claim 10, further comprising a first button positioned on a thumb surface of the main body adjacent a thumbstick.

17. The handheld controller of claim 16, further comprising a second button positioned on the thumb surface of the main body adjacent the thumbstick.

18. The handheld controller of claim 1, further comprising a first detection sensor on the finger side of the handle and positioned to detect the presence of a specific finger of the user relative to the handle.

19. The handheld controller of claim 18, wherein the first detection sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

20. The handheld controller of claim 1, wherein the handheld controller is configured such that when both the handheld controller detects that the third-finger button on the finger side is released and also a palm sensor on the palm side detects the user's hand, the virtual reality system in response indicates an open hand gesture.